Air Bag Questions??

[Sparky10]

I am looking at putting a set of Air Bags on my truck and would like some assistance on which ones I should get. The Firestone or Air Lift Brand? I also want to add the on board compressor option too. The Firestones are cheaper at all the places I have checked. But want the best ones so they last a long time.



I pull a 29 ft. Montana 5'er with a 2,400 lb. pin weight, Trailer is 10,500 lbs.



Questions:

1) Which brand bags - Firestone or Air Lift?

2) Do I have to remove the fender liners or cut them out?

3) Do I have to remove the overload springs?



Sorry about all the questions but I only want to do this once and the right way the first time!



Thanks for any help.

Scott

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by Sparky10

IQuestions:

1) Which brand bags - Firestone or Air Lift?

2) Do I have to remove the fender liners or cut them out?

3) Do I have to remove the overload springs?

1. Don't have air bags, so can't comment on which is better.



2. Don't believe so.



3. Yes, they are a direct replacement for the overloads springs.

 

[IWeiny]

Firestone

I think they are better but I am curious why they would be cheaper?



Anyway, I have the firestones and the in cab controls. They are great.



They did have to cut the fender skirts as they would rub the bag and cause a leak. However, they only cut what they needed to and it does not look or function bad.



Also they did not, nor had to, remove the overload springs. I am glad they are still on there as I could handle the load on the overloads and so if a bag ever leaks or blows I will not be stranded.



Good luck,

 

[Sparky10]

Thanks for the replies. Good news, as I didn't want to remove to wheel well liners. They look so much better then an open well.



Also glad I shouldn't have to remove the overloads. I wanted to keep them on for the very reason that if a bag should fail, then I am not left hanging.



Thanks again,

Scott



PS - Any other information anyone else has would still be very much apprieciated!

 

[Lordsman]

You can put a bolt in place of where the center rivet goes above the bag on the wheel well, with washer/nuts on both sides, pushing against the inside body of the truck. This will pull your wheel well away from the bag so no rubbing occurs, and you won't have to cut it.

My Airlift bags are mounted right on top of the overloads, but I hear the ride is better without overloads when empty. I'll probably re-do mine less the overloads after hunting season.

The job is easier if you take out the wells, just drill out the center rivets, and buy new one's when your done. I used FRP rivets I had left over from a refrigeration job.

 

[y-knot]

I to have been running the air lift bags, the ones I have on now are the smaller 1000lb bags, they are mounted to the over loads and seem to work good. I am taking them off and replacing them with 2500lb bags, these will mount center axle, without the overloads. The air bags give a very nice smooth ride, just the overloads smack the spring stops on larger bumps. So I'm taking them off, the larger bags will carry the load if needed. I also have an on-board compressor (quick-air II) and tank, if you get one don't get air-lift or Firestone's compressor, they are two small, and a waste of money. I do like there control panels, so they would be an option for you. I have looked around and basically the air-lift, and Firestone bags are the same. Mounts look identical, so I have no preference, who ever has the best deal when I order. I have had very good luck with the air-lift, the current set of bags has been on three different trucks, and is still going. So I would tend to lean that way.

 

[Dane]

1) Either brand work great ( I've had the Air Lift bags for 3+ years)



2) No you don't remove the liner, a spacer is included with the Air Lift kit



3) Remove the overloads, don't need em with bags. Better ride too...

 

[IWeiny]

While we are on the subject.

What weight is on your rear axle and what pressure do you run. I have the 2500# bag and being the engineer that I am have wondered if it is better to run higher pressure or lower.



With a small camper (8ft, 3000# loaded) if I run the bags from 70-90 the truck looks like it does with no load. At 70 there is quite a bit of sway through driveways and what not. 90 none really at all. But my feeling is to run the bags a bit lower to make the ride softer. My thought is it would put less impact on the axle bearings, tires, and rims which have little to no give. But of course this means the handling of the truck is a bit different. Any thoughts.



Anyway all these posts about air bags has me thinking again...

 

[Sparky10]

Why should it make any difference if I leave the overload springs on the truck? Several of you have noted that it should ride better when empty! If the truck is empty the overloads are not even touching and have no effect on the ride at all!!



If I leave them on and have a problem with the bags loosing air then the overloads are there to take over and help with the load until I can get them repaired.



I just can't understand how they would effect the ride of your trucks when empty as they are not being used. Maybe I am missing something here.....

 

[Dane]

I just can't understand how they would effect the ride of your trucks when empty

When running empty and hit a bump



The thick overload spring in the spring pack is enough to rattle your teeth. Take a look at the bottom thick leaf with the round rubber bumpers. You get about 1-2" of suspension compression before that big boy hits the stops. Add the camper package overload and you've got a "no give" suspension. Your suspension with the overloads is designed to give a good ride with 1000+ lbs in the bed. The air bags let you change the spring rate to match the load.



If I had kept my stock rear springs, I would have flipped the factory overload leaf (the thick one at the bottom of the pack) or leave it out completely and added air bags. I wanted to ditch the factory lift blocks because of the terrible wheel hop they induce. I also wanted softer spring rate for a better ride. I still have the air bags for running heavy.

 

[MikeBeggy]

Ditto what Dane says. When I'm empty, the truck weighs 8050 #. The overloads were always touching and I removed them when I installed the airlift system. Their super duty is a bellows type of bag which has a variable spring rate. It has greatly improved my ride both empty and towing. You want to get the bag set-up to be 6. 5 inches tall at your desired ride height. Talk to the guys at airlift.

 

[Sparky10]

Thanks for all of the information guys. I now have to wait for spring time to get the Air Bags and our Income Tax Return!



Seems the wife would rather take a little vacation right now to Reno instead of me getting the Air Bags. Oh well, maybe I'll hit it big there and can add on a 4" exhaust & a DTT Transmission job!!



Wish me Luck!!

Scott

 

[y-knot]

Heck we would just spend one less day in Reno, and I would have my bags! Listen to the guys, scrap the overloads, I have just removed mine and i'm waiting on the springs to come in. You will need shorted u-bolt though, so plan on it.

 

[y-knot]

Well the air bags came in and they are on. I went with the AIR LIFT super duty (part # 57215) 5000lb bag system. First thing I noticed is how heavy the bags were. Very thick and at least three times as heavy as my old ones (smaller 2000lb bags). Everything was accounted for and it came well packed. Before installing the bags, I had removed the old ones, removed the overload spring packs, and secured the axle. They the added room gained by axing the overloads, there was plenty of space for the new set. I don't see how this set would work without removing them, you could not get the required clearance. The installation is straight forward, and the only tough part was drilling the frame for the top bag mount. I have a B&W turn over ball goosneck hitch, and in addition to the frame, I had a 5/16 plate to drill thru. That was it, once the drilling is done, just bolt up and plug back in the air lines. You would have to run air lines if this was a new installation, but I had everything in place from the last set of bags, so just a little trimming and plug them in. I like the look of these bags, much beefier, and mounted to the center of the axle, were they should go. And with the overloads removed, there was room for the axle to travel now. I would think if someone wanted to add these to there truck, you would also want to add a compressor and some sort of in cab control. So remember to figure in the added cost if you are thinking about going this route.

 

[y-knot]

GREAT! Got a chance to take a spin and man do I love this truck. The ride is simply unblieveable, I would never have thought I could get this truck to ride this smoothly. I am compleatly satisfied. I have some pretty nasty issues with my spine, and trust me, I know how rough this thing was. It is so nice to drive over hole, bumps, and rough streets without being slaped around. I can actually drink my coffee now with out spilling it. I was hoping for an improved ride, I was thinking a little better, but I got a new truck. It really rides better then most 1500 trucks. I still get to fine tune it with the air pressure, so it will only get better. If you have been wanting a better ride , please do yourself a favor, and try this. It works.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Have Firstone bags in with my overweight springs.

 

[MikeBeggy]

Ditto, ditto, ditto. I had tried to express my same results as Y-not and didn't really get the response from the readership. The change is like stock engine vs injectors, box, turbo,etc all at once. For $200, EVERYONE wanting improved ride should try removing their overloads in favor of airbags.

 

[DernMooseAK]

I'm confused, the over load springs do nothing for the ride of an empty truck? So how does removing them help the ride?

 

[Jamie Attridge]

You mean like these?

 

[y-knot]

Wow, that truck has some serious hardware! The bags I used are from Air Lift, I am sure Firestone's bags are just as good. I only went to Air Lift because I have used them in the past, and never had a problem. I all fairness, I have done alot lately to improve ride quality. I have gone to a dual shock mount up front, with dual specially valved reservoir shocks. And in the rear I used the reservoir shocks and also a traction bar. The bags thu, I do feel are responsible for the majority of the improved ride. Also the bags are about 225. 00 (part # 57215) and available from any major mail order store. I don't think this set-up is practical without some sort of on-board air system. I had bags before, so everything was already in place, just plugged it back in. For a realistic budget you would need to include the compressor (don't get the small one offered by Air Lift, or Firestone's, go with a larger one like Quick-Air II) control panel, I use a tank, and fittings. The improvement is fantastic, and knowing the results, I would spend 5x's the money to do it again.